The Spring Equinox had just passed, and the chill of winter had not yet completely faded, but the spring breeze in the provincial capital, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees, quietly drifted through the vermilion window frames of the Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce office building. Lin Wanqiu, dressed in a well-tailored navy blue Lenin suit, with an elegant pearl hair clip tucked behind her ear, stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of the third-floor conference room, her fingertips lightly touching the cool glass, gazing at the bustling streets below, her heart churning with indescribable emotions.
Three days ago, when Shen Tingzhou informed her of the invitation from the Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce, the surprise and trepidation she felt were still vivid in her mind. She had never imagined that a rural woman from the Hongqi Production Brigade, a widow who had once struggled to make ends meet, would one day stand at such a height, shoulder to shoulder with the province's business elites, jointly planning for the industry's development. At this moment, the conference room was filled with the steady voices of conversation, their words revealing their expectations and plans for the future of the industry. This made her feel both a heavy responsibility and a surge of eager anticipation.
"Vice Chairman Lin, all the leaders have arrived and are waiting for you," a staff member whispered, interrupting her thoughts.
Lin Wanqiu took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and turned to walk into the conference room. Instantly, all eyes were on her, some scrutinizing, some curious, and some welcoming. She calmly nodded in greeting and walked to her seat—the wooden chair engraved with the words "Vice Chairman," sturdy and heavy, as if bearing the trust and expectations of countless professionals.
Chen Zhenbang, chairman of the Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce, is an elderly man with gray hair, but his eyes are sharp yet gentle. He looked at Lin Wanqiu and smiled as he spoke: "Comrade Wanqiu, welcome to our big family. We have all heard about your achievements. You started from scratch, operated with integrity, and never forgot to give back to your hometown by building a nursing home. Such a responsible and compassionate entrepreneur is exactly the kind of role model our industry needs."
"Chairman Chen, you flatter me." Lin Wanqiu bowed slightly, her tone humble yet firm. "I only did what I was supposed to do. I am both honored and humbled to be recognized and elected as vice chairman. In the future, I hope that all leaders and colleagues will give me more guidance, and I will do my best to contribute to the development of our food industry."
Her words were simple and unadorned, yet they conveyed a genuine sincerity. The entrepreneurs present nodded in agreement, their gazes towards her now filled with admiration. Among them were many seasoned entrepreneurs from prestigious families, with decades of experience in their respective industries. Initially, they had some doubts about this "suddenly arrived" rural businesswoman, but seeing her composure, poise, and unpretentious demeanor, most of their doubts dissipated.
The meeting officially began, with the agenda revolving around the current state of development and future plans for the food industry. Chen Zhenbang first reported on the overall situation of the food industry in the province: "In recent years, with the gradual recovery of the economy, the food industry has ushered in development opportunities, but it also faces many challenges. Some enterprises, in pursuit of profits, use inferior materials and cut corners, which not only harms the interests of consumers but also damages the reputation of the industry; there are also some enterprises with outdated technology and low production efficiency, making it difficult to adapt to market demands..."
Listening to Chen Zhenbang's words, Lin Wanqiu frowned slightly, deeply moved. She recalled the early days of her food workshop. To ensure product quality, she insisted on using the highest quality ingredients and traditional methods. Many people advised her to "compromise" and reduce costs, but she always held firm to her principles. It was this persistence that allowed her food workshop to grow and win the trust of consumers. But now, the existence of so many irregularities in the industry deeply worried her.
"I believe that regulating the industry is the most urgent task," said an entrepreneur who runs a cannery. "We should formulate unified industry standards, strengthen supervision, and severely punish those enterprises that violate laws and regulations to purify the market environment."
“That being said, setting standards is easier said than done. The situations in different regions and among different companies vary greatly, making it difficult to apply a one-size-fits-all approach.” Another entrepreneur offered a different perspective. “Moreover, supervision requires human and material resources. Does our Federation of Industry and Commerce have that much authority?”
The meeting room erupted into debate, with everyone expressing their opinions, yet no consensus was reached. Lin Wanqiu listened attentively to each speaker, her fingers lightly tapping on her notebook, her mind constantly searching for solutions. She recalled the modern food industry knowledge she had learned in the space—the content on standardized production and quality traceability systems—which might offer some inspiration.
"Colleagues, I'd like to share my thoughts," Lin Wanqiu began slowly, and the conference room fell silent instantly, all eyes turning to her once again. "I agree with the proposal to establish industry standards, but these standards don't need to be 'one-size-fits-all.' Instead, we can develop corresponding tiered standards based on different product categories and company sizes, ensuring product quality while also allowing companies room for growth."
She paused, then continued, "As for regulation, the power of the Federation of Industry and Commerce alone is indeed limited, but we can work with market supervision departments to establish a joint mechanism, while also leveraging industry self-regulation. For example, we can establish an industry association, which can take the lead in organizing enterprises to conduct self-inspection and rectification, and supervise each other. Enterprises that strictly abide by standards and operate with integrity can be commended and promoted; those that violate regulations will be publicly criticized within the industry, and serious cases will be reported to relevant departments for handling."
"Furthermore, regarding the issue of technological backwardness, I believe we can strengthen communication and cooperation among enterprises and build a technology-sharing platform." Lin Wanqiu's eyes lit up, and her tone carried a hint of urgency. "My food workshop has been exploring new technologies and processes over the years and has accumulated some experience. I am willing to share my technology with everyone free of charge to help more enterprises improve production efficiency and product quality."
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